If you still have a Burgundy UK passport, you should check one thing before your trip.
The UK switched from a Burgundy passport to a blue passport in 2020, but even five years after the switch, many of us who already had dated passports are still rocking Burgundy.
Most passports have been issued for about 10 years. This means that switching to a Blue Passport will not be fully completed until 2030, when all remaining Burgundy Passports expire.
However, holiday makers with Burgundy passports are being urged to check their travel documents before heading out this summer holidays.
A video shared by Rudge Daily on Tiktok explained that all Burgundy Passport owners must create “Vital Checks” before their trip.
“As an older colored document is likely to break travel rules, you will be encouraged to do important checks in advance. The two most important details to check are the passport issue date and expiration date.”
He went on to explain that if you are planning a trip to a country within the European Union (EU), your passport must be under the age of 10 and be valid at least three months after the date you plan to return home.
He added: “We found that less than 50% of people know the 10-year cutoff before 2018, so British people who go on holiday continue to get caught up in the rules.”
Before 2018, your passport is valid for 10 years and 9 months. This is because whenever you are left in your old passport whenever you are renewed, it will be added to your new passport. For example, if you renew your passport for 5 months before your passport expires, the new passport will be valid for 10 years and 5 months.
In this example, if your passport was issued in 2015, there is still five months left and could be effective under the 3 month rule. However, since your passport was issued over a decade ago, you cannot travel within the EU.
Rudge Daily explained: “There may still be plenty of time left to expire, but it is likely to be over 10 years old, making it more likely that it will be invalid for EU travel.
This is just an issue affecting Burgundy passport holders, as it was issued by anyone who has a blue passport since 2020. This means that your adult passport is still valid for 10 years and must be done properly within the date.
However, if you have children, it is recommended that you check your passport even if you have a blue passport, as your child's passport is usually only valid for five years.
Passport validity rules in countries other than the EU
Passport rules vary depending on the country you plan to travel to. In the US and Canada, your passport must be a date throughout your trip, but you do not need to have a 3 month buffer. However, to avoid the problem, I recommend having 6 months of extra validity.
New Zealand has similar rules as in the EU in that the passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the scheduled departure date, but Australia says that the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country.
Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and the United Arab Emirates all follow the same guidance as Australia, but Japan only needs your passport to be valid for the whole time you are in the country. The post office recommends that you keep safe and secure, but Japan is not necessary for travel.
